SailGP: BlackFoils race win highlights solid opening day in Saint-Tropez
by Ben Mackey 13 Sep 06:25 BST
BlackFoils (NZL) - Race Day 1 - Rockwool France SailGP - Saint Tropez - September 12, 2025 © Felix Diemer/SailGP
A consistent day of fleet racing with no finishes lower than fifth along with a race win have the Black Foils well in the hunt after the opening day of the Rockwool France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez.
In thrilling racing charged by the famous mistral breeze in Saint-Tropez four different teams won races as the fleet grappled with conditions. The Black Foils compiled results of fifth, first, third and fifth to be just a point behind Friday’s leaders Emirates Great Britain.
Black Foils Co-CEO and Driver Peter Burling was pleased to see the team’s efforts between events paying off.
“We struggled a bit in Sassnitz [with the starts] and we've put in a bit of work between these events and we’re really happy with how those first three unfolded. We got pretty unlucky on a couple of them just with the way the puffs filled. In the last one it was super tricky, they was a massive right hand pressure in the middle. I should go back and look and see what we could have done on that one – but really happy with the progress and it was a cool days racing.”
Burling said the team will need to carry a similar attitude into Saturday’s racing in what are expected to be different conditions.
“I think you definitely learnt a bit as it went on, but the range was huge on the shifts and just how they're filling in over the racecourse. It was definitely super tricky, and you just had to make the most of whatever came to you. For us it was just about trying to make sure you kept as many boats behind us as you could and kept it clean.”
The Rockwool France Sail Grand Prix continues tomorrow Saturday 13 September 2025, with racing starting at the earlier time of 12-30pm local time (Saturday 10-30pm in NZ). All the action will be live in New Zealand on ThreeNow and Youtube.